Jurassic City - Network

Okay. When the city started falling apart around us, this wasn't what I was expecting it to get replaced with. But I guess this proves it. I mean, there's no way any of this can be real.

This is rude.

I'm offended.

It's an entirely unfair and unnecessary commentary on my life choices.

phil.

Satan.

Actual Satan.

That is just rude.

Valentine's is fast approaching. And while it remains a terrifying and dangerous holiday, and one should always be wary of anyone asking you to be their valentine, there is something charming about a holiday dedicated to love. Which is why I have this great list of activities you can do with your loved one on Valentine's.

1. Stare into the void and contemplate the massiveness of the universe and your comparative insignificance, both as individuals and as a unit. Scream into the void. Keep screaming as you let yourself feel the true existential dread that accompanies such a realization.

2. Go for a walk together in nature. Sure, most of nature is trying to kill you and if it isn't, it probably wants something from you, but you're facing it together. And always remember that forests can be sentient and may want to trap you forever and turn you into a tree. Ignore any forests that try to lure you with compliments. They are deceitful. However, maybe becoming one with nature and your true love is what you seek. In which case, embrace your new life as a tree.

3. Give your loved one your heart. Take theirs in return. Carve your heart from your chest and hand the bloody, shivering organ to the one you love. Take their heart. Put this new heart into your chest and stitch your flesh back together. Exchange hearts with your love so you can always have a piece of them inside you. Keep in mind to only do this if you're reasonably certain your anatomy is capable of surviving the temporary removal of a heart. Carlos has helpfully reminded me that not everyone can do that.

4. Overthrow an insidious corpocratic regime together. Some of the strongest relationships thrive in insurgency. You can bond over protest and struggle and overcoming oppressive tyrants. If a horrible, fascist corporate dictatorship is not available, maybe watch a movie about people overthrowing such a regime, and pretend you're overthrowing the regime yourselves. For example, An Affair to Remember.

5. Fix the person you love a nice dinner. Avoid wheat and wheat by-products, for the obvious reason. If you aren't a very good cook, or you have a traumatic history with kitchen tools, maybe go out to dinner. Maybe go to an Arby's. Contemplate the lights outside the Arby's and wonder what those lights want. Why do they watch you. Why are they so mysterious. Discuss the mysterious lights above the Arby's with your significant other.

6. Adopt a pet together. Like a cat that hovers four feet above the ground in a men's restroom in a fixed point of space and time. Your pet will find you as fate dictates.

This really brings back some memories. My husband and I first confessed our feelings in an Arby's parking lot. Well, he confessed his feelings. I'd frequently made my feelings clear for the preceding year on my radio show. And, obviously, we've done some of these others. None of them are too out there or "grand gesture"-y. These are just little ways you can show the one you love that you really care.

But seriously, be mindful if someone asks you to be their valentine. Ritual sacrifice can be really messy.

Okay. That's never happened before.

[Daisy]

Just a quick question and then I'll be out of your hair. Are your powers acting up?

Now that all the horror movie creatures seem to have gone I'm going to ask if everyone got through it all okay. I hope no one was bitten or attacked at all.

[ Filtered to Ward ]

I want to make this year special. We didn't get to spend it together last year so I want to decorate the apartment and put antlers on Bear and everything else that couples do at Christmas.

So, with the tv season's opening approaching, I've come up with a new promo for Pour Judgement. On the day of your show's next episode airing, you will get free drinks at the bar. I'm calling it Jesus Christ, People Are Watching This Shit? Day.

It's a good thing that we don't really need money. I think I give away more alcohol than I get paid for.

Okay. No. I'm calling bullshit. What the fucking fuck? Someone get me the fuck back to civilization. Or at least tell me what the fuck you've done with my friends.

There's a loose end a person finds themselves at when their meaning for continuing on is removed from sight. It had already happened back home, but it's far more final here.

It's hard to be active in a cause that doesn't exist. But at the same time, there's a measure of peace here that hadn’t existed at home for over a decade.

I suppose what I'm saying is, has anyone else figured out how to handle this setting without feeling listless?

I thought this place was about second chances but I'm not so sure anymore.

[ Filtered to Ward ]
I'm sorry about how I was this weekend. I'm sorry I snapped at you. I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry I'm still so messed up.

I've invited Lincoln over for dinner like we discussed, I hope you don't mind.

[ Filtered to Lincoln ]
Grant and I would like to invite you over for dinner one day soon.

Time travel, Captain Kirk, and dinosaurs. This is a strange day, even in the company I keep.

From what I've read - nobody knows what's going on, or how to get home. Fictional people show up. But there's definitely a bar? Does that about cover it, or did I miss some details?

Ethan Hunt, what the hell did you do?

No. Just no.

I'm not usually one to think about how much I miss things but i have to say, I miss space. Dinosaurs are cool but it's no space.

Anyway, I guess I'm going back to school. Get my high school degree so I can take some college classes. That'll give me something to do.

I think this place is starting to grow on me. I like that I'm not worrying about being hunted and I've, tentatively, made friends here. Things aren't perfect. There are things I'm missing out on because of choices I've made while here but... maybe that's for the best.

I thought my life was perfect here but it is slowly falling apart and I can't stop it. I thought I was better but now I wonder if I wasn't just fooling myself into thinking I was. I can't stop thinking that maybe Jemma was wrong and the HYDRA brainwashing is still there lingering in the back of my mind stopping me from truly being whole again. I'm scared that I'll end up completely alone because no one trusts me apart from one or two people, one who doesn't want my help right now and the other who will probably end up getting convinced I'm evil and can't be trusted. Maybe they're right to say that.

( cut for length )

I have never felt more useless in my entire life. I thought I felt useless after Whitehall died but this is worse. So much worse because I don't know how to help the man I love. I know everyone hates us and while I'm okay with that he isn't.

It kills me to see him withdraw into himself every single time one of you yells at him for simply trying to talk to you. He's suffered enough, he isn't asking for forgiveness or acceptance he just a chance to prove to you he's changed but you're all so focused on trying to make him suffer for what he's done that you can't see what you're doing is nothing compared to what he's doing to himself every single time he tries to reach out.

I don't want him to talk to any of you but he can't stop caring, even if you all hate him he's never going to stop. Because of everything you people have said to him he has decided he's better off trying to isolate himself from everyone, including me. I swear if anything happens to him because of this I will never forgive any of you.

We never meant for things to go as far as they did back home but no one can change the past. Everyone makes mistakes, its human nature but punishing us for the rest of our lives is just stupid and exhausting. I can't keep doing this, I'm exhausted and I don't have the energy to fight anyone anymore. I just want to live my life in peace with the man who helped me find myself again. Is that really too much to ask?

This isn't where I wanted to be or what I wanted to become. But I don't know how to be anything different.

Everyone keeps giving Daisy's friend a hard time but... he's right.

So... Dinosaurs, huh?

Ollie? Please tell me I'm not going crazy alone.

( not locked, just cut to spare people from roman's personality if they don't want to deal with it: warning for misogynistic slurs )

Holy cow I'm back! I think this place just saved my life too.

How long have i been gone? Feels like it's been forever.